By: Toscha Tait, RN, CDP
Day after day, patients come in to receive chemotherapy treatment, passing rooms with warning signs and hospital staff in protective isolation gear. They want to know they are safe.
They have a fear of chemo, a fear of not surviving, and then they confront the reality of living in a world submerged in pandemic in order to receive their lifesaving treatment.
My nomination is for a colleague who has been a nurse for many years and in many different areas. This has allowed him to gain an amazing knowledge base while he continues to embrace human life.
Michael Wojcik, RN, continuously puts his patients at ease by explaining how we work as a team to keep them safe, going over their laboratory results to reduce fear and increase their knowledge, and explaining every step of their treatment. He answers the endless number of questions from patients and families.
The patients often tell me, “Mike will watch over me and I will be OK.” They have placed their faith in him, believing that he will use all of his knowledge to help them fight their fight and win the battle.
The patients leave their treatments with hope, knowledge and a feeling that they are special to their nurse. If they call with any concerns, they know they will be heard and will receive communication back on what to do in a timely manner. They know that they are not just a patient undergoing chemo but a valuable human cherished by their nurse and our team. They are not alone in their battle.
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